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Dear TSJ Friends,
In this busy holiday season when many of us are feeling a mixture of excitement and stress I want to share some ideas on how to 
reduce stress. I hope this blog-letter will be encouraging, enjoyable and useful.
To start with, have you ever thought much about the gift of yawning?
The other day a good friend and I spent some treasured time together. It was rather serendipitous and delightful. We started by sipping coffee at Dunkin Donuts, followed by meeting our husbands (who had to get supplies for Mr. John to finish the fireplace) for lunch. Then we went shopping at TJMax for more fun and many chuckles.
Out of this time together I realized again how important friends and “play time” are for adults as well as children to relieve stress.
Research confirms that play is the catalyst for creativity. Which leads to today’s simple wisdom reminders for self-care. Interestingly, we often neglect self- care during the added activities and expectations of holidays. In fact, we tend to feel pressured, eat more and sleep less.
At some point in our time together my friend finished a short conversation with a playful quip, “You cannot clench your teeth and yawn.”
That made me stop and laugh. What an image. While I do not remember what prompted her to say that, I do know that it struck a cord in me which led to laughter and some reflection.
It is a great analogy of what we have to do on an emotional/spiritual level in times of stress and turmoil. For example, I began to realize yawning causes us to open up, to receive oxygen and feel renewed.
You almost have to stretch your mouth and loosen your jaw when you perform a full out yawn! . And at times you stretch your body along with it, especially when awakening. Have you ever been bemused by watching a young bear cub or other animals stretching and yawning? They are amusing and endearing to watch.
Another observation, yawning is rather contagious, isn’t it?
Even reading about it might make you yawn.
So I wonder, “Why do we yawn? ” It sure seems essential in some way.
I checked on the Internet for answers and it seems this is an age-old question and still somewhat of a mystery. There are several conflicting theories about its benefits. That may or may not actually be true. But you may want to read some seemingly good neuroscience research here.
But for today’s thoughts – those hours of laughter, eating, shopping and sharing are something I wanted to share with you. It was a privilege and caused me to think about the TSJ community of friends. It reminded me the importance of finding time for ourselves even if only a few moments here and there.
So I want to encourage you to allow yourselves the luxury of at least three things that may help recharge overloaded brains!.
- Notice your body’s signals of stress – Clenched teeth? Tight jaw muscles? Neck aches? Shoulders raised?
- Remember you cannot clench your teeth and have a full-out yawn!
- Consciously drop your shoulders every few hours. Breathe in and out slowly to the count of threeRemember yawning is “contagious” (sort of anyway), so it helps others take in fresh oxygen too! Remember yawning is “contagious” (sort of anyway), so it helps others take in fresh oxygen too!
2. Laugh. Laugh out loud. Laugh often. We all need to laugh more. Unclench the jaw and open up to laughter. Laughter is magical and healing. Do you get angry easily? Did you know It is physically impossible to laugh and be angry at the same moment. If you want to be angry and someone makes you laugh you will be annoyed that it has interrupted your anger. But this tells you how powerful the gift of laugh It has been said laughter is an inner jog – stimulates good digestion and increased endorphins.
3. Harness your runaway thinking! If you are a worrier or filled with free-floating anxiety, perhaps your brain simply cannot stop thinking (especially in the night). This technique may help.
Steps to harness your runaway thoughts and help you rest.
a. Decide on the thought or worry that won’t let you rest.
b. Choose something – anything- to look at steadily. (visual activity – even the back of your eyelids works!)
c. At the same time choose some sound – any sound at all – to listen to. (auditory activity – the hum of a clock or even sounds in your own ears works)
If you do these things simultaneously you will not be able to think about your worry thoughts. Maybe it is like watching a good movie. At the least it is a distraction.
While these things seem obvious to us, relaxing with a friend and her thought- provoking comment reawakened me to the reality that trying to yawn through clenched teeth as well as tensing our muscles in constant stress and worry deprives us of God’s life giving oxygen!
So here is to laughter, love, and yawns today and in the days to follow.
Wishing you joy and peace.
Margie and Solomon,
